“It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).
Click here for an optional reflection
Recite 10 Hail Marys (or 2 Hail Marys, if you are starting out or are limited in time). While you are praying the Hail Marys, reflect on the attitudes, teachings or virtues do the protagonists in mystery demonstrate. Also reflect on how you can incorporate into your life what you have observed from the protagonists of the mystery.
Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Reflect on the mystery for approx. 30 seconds. If you feel comfortable, share the fruits of your reflection with your Spiritual Companion.
2nd Luminous Mystery: Christ Reveals Himself at Cana
“On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’” (John 2:1-3)
Click here for an optional reflection
Recite 10 Hail Marys (or 2 Hail Marys, if you are starting out or are limited in time). While you are praying the Hail Marys, reflect on the attitudes, teachings or virtues do the protagonists in mystery demonstrate. Also reflect on how you can incorporate into your life what you have observed from the protagonists of the mystery.
Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Reflect on the mystery for approx. 30 seconds. If you feel comfortable, share the fruits of your reflection with your Spiritual Companion.
3rd Luminous Mystery: Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17)
Click here for an optional reflection
Recite 10 Hail Marys (or 2 Hail Marys, if you are starting out or are limited in time). While you are praying the Hail Marys, reflect on the attitudes, teachings or virtues do the protagonists in mystery demonstrate. Also reflect on how you can incorporate into your life what you have observed from the protagonists of the mystery.
Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Reflect on the mystery for approx. 30 seconds. If you feel comfortable, share the fruits of your reflection with your Spiritual Companion.
4th Luminous Mystery: The Transfiguration
“He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun.”
(Matthew 17:2)
Click here for an optional reflection
Recite 10 Hail Marys (or 2 Hail Marys, if you are starting out or are limited in time). While you are praying the Hail Marys, reflect on the attitudes, teachings or virtues do the protagonists in mystery demonstrate. Also reflect on how you can incorporate into your life what you have observed from the protagonists of the mystery.
Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Reflect on the mystery for approx. 30 seconds. If you feel comfortable, share the fruits of your reflection with your Spiritual Companion.
5th Luminous Mystery: Institution of the Eucharist
“While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.’”
(Mark 14:22-24)
Click here for an optional reflection
Recite 10 Hail Marys (or 2 Hail Marys, if you are starting out or are limited in time). While you are praying the Hail Marys, reflect on the attitudes, teachings or virtues do the protagonists in mystery demonstrate. Also reflect on how you can incorporate into your life what you have observed from the protagonists of the mystery.
Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Reflect on the mystery for approx. 30 seconds. If you feel comfortable, share the fruits of your reflection with your Spiritual Companion.
The last prayer of the rosary is the Salve ReginaHail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
V- Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God
R- That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Finish the rosary by making the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
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1. Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan - (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22)
“It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).
Reflection: The sacrament of Baptism washes us from the sins of our first parents, Adam and Eve. In Christ’s Baptism, he unites with all of Israel and humanity. Jesus also shows the unity of the Trinity with him presented as the Son, the Father’s mark approval, along with the descending of the Holy Spirit. Just as we begin in the fullness of faith with our baptism, so too does Jesus begin his messianic mission with his Baptism.
What has your Baptism into the Church meant for you?
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana - (John 2:1-11)
“On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the win failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’” (John 2:1-3)
Reflection: Mary intercedes for us just as she did for the wedding couple at Cana but, Mary never commands Jesus. She simply points out the need of the couple and proceeds to tell the servers in John 2:5, “Do whatever he tells you.” This is what the Gospel tells says, do whatever Our Lord tells us.
How does the Lord instruct our lives?
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom - (Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 6:25-27, Luke 15:11-24)
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17)
Reflection: The sacrament of Confession allows us to repent for our errors committed against ourselves, our fellow neighbors, and God. It grants us the grace of pardon and peace from Christ through the priest. We commit many errors and have wronged many people but our Lord never tires to forgive us. It is we who tire in asking for forgiveness. As Jesus says to the adulterous women in John 8:11, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” The last part is what we must always strive to do.
How has the sacrament of confession impacted our lives?
4. The Transfiguration - (Matthew 17:1-8)
“He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun.”
(Matthew 17:2)
Reflection: "At the height of the Transfiguration scene, God's glory cloud comes down on the mountain and overshadows them, as it covered Moses and the Israelite leaders on Sinai. And just as a heavenly voice called out from the cloud to give Moses the old law on the tablets of stone, so now the Father’s voice calls out from the cloud to reveal the new law in the person of Jesus: ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him’ (Matthew 17:5)... Indeed, through Christ’s transforming grace, we are called to live in a way that reflects the glory of God her on earth. Jesus call us to be changed unto his likeness from one degree of glory to another” (Sri, Pg. 90-91)
How has your life changed after encountering Christ?
5. The Institution of the Eucharist - (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-23)
“While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.’”
(Mark 14:22-24)
Reflection: In the Eucharist, Jesus gives us his very blood and body. Jesus is the bread of life who has come down to take away the sins of the world. Jesus states clearly in John 6:54, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” Shortly afterwards the many of the disciples said in John 6:60,66 “This saying is hard; who can accept it?... As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.”Jesus invites us to the supper of the lamb but that also entails a change in our ways of life. Consuming Christ changes us and should lead us to imitate him in doing the will of the Father.
Please take the time to read the discourse of the bread of life and aftermath found in John 6:22-71. How does the Eucharist change your way of life?
Most of these reflections were prepared by Mike Mateo using as reference the books below.
Pennington, M. Basil. Praying by Hand. Harper, San Francisco, 1991.
Sri, Edward. Praying the Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter The Wonder Of Heaven and Earth. Franciscan Media, 2017.
In addition, Maggie McCann contributed additional reflection questions and valuable insights.